West U16 26-0 Central U16

10 November 2003 14:04

By

WEST U16 26 CENTRAL 0

The West U16 carried on from where they left off last season by beating a spirited central side at Hendy RFC on Sunday. The game was played in perfect conditions with both sides playing open rugby. The West had a number of new faces in their line up, and with ten minutes played, good work by the forwards produced a try for captain Beth Hawke.

Central came back with powerful running from their forwards but could not turn pressure into points. Nicola Stevenson & Emily Gallaghar compliment each other well in the centre for the West and Stevenson crashed over the line for their second try, converted by Hawke.

The West back row consisting of Natalie Walsh, Lisa Newton & Debbie O'Neil kept the pressure on the Central team throughout the game.

The West had several members of last year's Neath U13 team playing for the first time and they all played very well. Scrum half Hannah Lerwill was on top form and the quality of her passing from the base of rucks and mauls was a joy to watch. Hooker, Amy Lawrence had a superb all round game.

West made a change at fly half in the second half, with young Bethan Preece coming on for Deborah Evans. She joined her Neath team mate making a half back partnership which changed the game .The West front five were now on top giving the backs a solid platform to play. Hannah Lerwill scored a cracking individual try, which Bethan Preece converted.

The West were brimming with confidence and played the ball out wide at every occasion. Laura March and Heledd Stevens looked very sharp, with good support from full back Sammy Morgan. It was only good defence from Central that keep them out.

With five minutes remaining, West attacked again. Natalie Walsh was held up short of the line but got the pass away to debutant flanker Sioned Harries who score to bring the final score to 26-0.

Playing tier one nations is a rare treat for Georgia and Milton Haig can't wait to tangle with Wales in this autumn's Under Armour series. WRU TV's Graeme Gillespie hears an excited head coach proclaim: "It's an iconic stadium against an iconic team - these are the occasions we dream about as coaches and players"

Three of the Welsh Rugby Union's members of Team GB in Rio reflect on today's confirmation of rugby sevens' inclusion in the Olympic Games through to Paris 2024. The decision, taken at the International Olympic Committee Session in Lima (Peru), is another compelling endorsement of the game, which made a spectacular debut in Brazil last year.

Anthony Joshua MBE returns to the ring six months after defeating Wladimir Klitschko to defend his WBA, IBF and IBO heavyweight titles against Kubrat Pulev at Principality Stadium on October 28, where he is aiming to be a knock-out.

Jamie Roberts says tackling world champions New Zealand is one of the 'greatest challenges in rugby' as they ask questions for the entire match. And he warns his teammates that playing the All Blacks will be the toughest game of their careers.

The new Principality Premiership season kicks off this weekend with defending champions Merthyr beginning their defence of the title against Cross Keys in the East division. Coach Dale MacIntosh and Phillip Rees are expecting a tough season ahead.

Lead Volunteer Gemma Sherlock sees the Rhondda Miners Cluster as a perfect pathway for young girls in the area to work towards Under 18 and senior rugby as the cluster continues to go from strength to strength.

With applications now open for the next intake of WRU apprentices, a number of current trainees offer a glimpse of what their apprenticeship has done for them, including Kira Philpott who declares it has changed her life!

In an exciting development for Women's Regional Rugby, Rygbi Gogledd Cymru will join Cardiff Blues, Dragons, Scarlets and Ospreys for the upcoming season. WRU TV headed to Colwyn Bay to speak to one of its new recruits, Wales Women international Rachel Taylor.

Ysgol y Berwyn School club hub officer Euros Jones uses a unique Welsh-centric programme to encourage youngsters to the game with Sam Warburton, Leigh Halfpenny and George North just some of the heroes that the likes of eight-year-old Moli aspire to be.

As part of her role as a Lions Home Ambassador, WRU apprentice Kira Philpott, supported by her fellow apprentices, organised a Disability Rugby Lions Legacy festival at the WRU National Centre of Excellence.

Head coach Bernard Jackman and chief executive Stuart Davies, along with WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips, discuss the vision for the future of the Dragons where the aim is for the region to become a Welsh-centric production line of talent.